There is a specific kind of silence you only find at 5 PM on a forest road, with nothing but the hum of tyres against the earth and the rhythmic breathing of your family cycling beside you.
During my years of cycle touring, I learned that cycling isn't just about fitness or sport; it’s about opening your mind. You learn to respect the wind, tackle the incline, and deeply appreciate the environment that provides the backdrop for your journey.
I didn't realise it then, but those miles were preparing me for my next great climb. When I told people I wanted to move from running a successful cycling charity to selling wine online, they thought I’d fallen on my head!
But to me, the answer is simple. Whether you’re pushing through the final mile of a fundraiser or harvesting grapes from a sun-drenched vine, you are participating in an energy cycle. Today, at Vivan Cooperative, I’ve traded the bike frame for the wine cellar, but the mission remains the same: protecting the earth that gives us so much.
The Starting Line: Learning to Ride at 30
Back in 2010, I started a cycling charity. Did I know everything about bikes? Not at all. In fact, I only truly learned to ride in my 30s!
What taught me more than the mechanics of a gear shift was the mechanics of a mission. Running a business in pursuit of helping others—rather than just lining our own pockets—changed my DNA.
I realised then that the true purpose of a business is not just to make money, but to serve humanity.
I then created Bike for Good, a charity whose mission is to enable people to cycle as their primary mode of transport. Our success was measured in the number of bikes diverted from landfills (over 2,500 annually) and the volume of individuals gaining access to affordable cycling. The charity currently reaches around 10,000 people a year.
Did I know anything about cycling? Nope….
The Pivot: Discovering the "Dirty" Side of Wine.
As much as I love cycling, my drink of choice has always been wine. It’s one of the few drinks that offers a connection to the land and a vast range of flavours. However, my "energy transition" truly began when a local shop introduced me to natural wine, specifically the Note di Rosso 2022 by Alessandro Viola.
As I dove deeper, I was shocked to find that the conventional wine industry is a major culprit in environmental damage, often using 20% more fertilisers than other fruit industries.
Reading David Servan-Schreiber’s Anticancer, I realised the health implications of these chemicals. I started to understand that what is good for the soil is inherently good for us; choosing low-intervention wine isn't just an environmental act, it’s a way to avoid the 'brain fog' and additives often found in industrial bottles, allowing for a purer connection between the glass and our well-being
I discovered a group of heroes: natural wine growers. These winemakers focus on soil health, carbon sequestration, and the use of indigenous yeasts. They are the guardians of the land, yet because they are small-scale, they often struggle to reach the people who want their wine the most.
The Finish Line: Why Vivan Cooperative Exists.
This is why we created Vivan Cooperative, Europe’s first marketplace dedicated specifically to small winemakers. We focus on regenerative agriculture and the people behind the labels.
We operate as a not-for-profit model because our goal isn't to be a giant corporation; it’s to support those who guard our planet.
By operating as a social enterprise, we reinvest our surplus into the mission rather than paying dividends to distant shareholders.
By choosing this structure, we ensure that the value stays with the growers and the land.
Does this journey resonate with you?
By joining us, you are becoming part of a global shift toward the social economy—where every purchase supports a cycle of environmental and human health.
Whether you’re a cyclist, an environmentalist, or just someone who loves an honest glass of red, we’d love to have you in our community.
Discover our curated selection of French wines.
I hope you'll join us for the ride. 🚲
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